Photographing apparatus for photographing panoramic image and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A photographing method and apparatus is provided. The photographing apparatus includes a photographing unit; a sensing unit for sensing motion of the photographing apparatus; a display unit for displaying at least one guide image for panorama photographing; a controller for controlling the photographing unit to automatically photograph, if a photographing direction that changes in accordance with motion of the photographing apparatus corresponds to one of the at least one guide image; and a storage unit for storing the photographed image data.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/362,901, which was filed in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office onJan. 31, 2012, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2011-0009786, filed on Jan. 31, 2011 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of each ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a photographing apparatus forphotographing a panoramic image and a method thereof, and, moreparticularly, to a photographing apparatus that provides a plurality ofguide images, allowing a user to photograph a panoramic image easily,and a method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of electronic technologies, various types ofelectronic devices have been developed and are now widely used.Specifically, a compact mobile device with various functions such as asmart phone has recently become popular.

Such a mobile device may provide a photographing function. Thus, userscan take various pictures or videos using the devices they always carry,and can share their photographed images with others by uploading suchimages onto websites or blogs. The images photographed by the device maybe used as road view images. If the images are to be used as road viewimages, a panoramic image in which several images are connected to oneanother is more useful than a single image which was photographed fromone point of view. In other words, since the size of an image that canbe contained in one photo sheet is limited, a wide image is generated byphotographing several still images and combining them. Thisphotographing method is referred to as a panoramic image photographingmethod.

However, in order to obtain such a panoramic image, a photographingapparatus should continuously photograph images at various angles.Therefore, even if the photographing apparatus has a panorama function,it is not easy for users to photograph a panoramic image while changingthe angle.

Therefore, there is a demand for a method for photographing a panoramicimage easily and conveniently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to substantially solve at leastthe above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least theadvantages below.

An aspect of the present invention provides a photographing apparatusthat provides a plurality of guide images, thereby allowing a user tophotograph a panoramic image easily, and a method thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a photographingapparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a photographing unit; asensing unit for sensing motion of the photographing apparatus; adisplay unit for displaying at least one guide image for panoramaphotographing; a controller for controlling the photographing unit toautomatically photograph, if a photographing direction that changes inaccordance with motion of the photographing apparatus corresponds to oneof the at least one guide image; and a storage unit for storing thephotographed image data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forphotographing a panoramic image of a photographing apparatus isprovided. The method includes displaying at least one guide image forpanorama photographing; sensing motion of the photographing apparatus;automatically photographing, if a photographing direction that changesin accordance with motion of the photographing apparatus corresponds toone of the at least one guide image; and storing the photographed imagedata.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a photographingapparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a photographing unit; adisplay unit for displaying a screen image; a sensing unit for sensingmotion of the photographing apparatus; a graphic processor fordisplaying at least one guide image and a photographing focus on thescreen image, and changing a position of the photographing focusdepending on the motion of the photographing apparatus; a controller forcontrolling the photographing unit to automatically photograph, if thephotographing focus matches one of the plurality of guide images; and astorage unit for storing photographed image data to make a panoramicimage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describing indetail embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a photographing apparatusaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a screen on which aplurality of guide images are displayed;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a spherical panoramic image;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for changing a display state of a guideimage that has been photographed among a plurality of guide images;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a guide image for photographing ageneral panoramic image; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating a method for photographing apanoramic image according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used forthe same elements when they are depicted in different drawings.Functions or elements known in the related art are not described indetail since they would obscure the embodiments with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a photographing apparatusaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

A photographing apparatus 100 refers to an apparatus that creates animage using an image sensing element collecting light reflected from asubject through a lens, and converts the image into electric signals andrecords those signals on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or amemory card or transmits the signals through a network. Thephotographing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a video datacapturing apparatus such as a camcorder. However, the photographingapparatus 100 is not so limited and may be a camera for photographing astill image or any other apparatus with a photographing capability suchas a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a tabletPersonal Computer (PC).

As shown in FIG. 1, the photographing apparatus 100 includes aphotographing unit 110, a controller 120, a display unit 130, a storageunit 140, a sensing unit 150, and a graphic processor 160.

The photographing unit 110 photographs by receiving light reflected froman object to be photographed, that is, a subject, and outputsphotographed image data. This image data includes not only simple stillimage data but also video data. The photographing unit 110 may includean image sensing element, a lens, and an aperture.

As the image sensing element, a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or aComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor may be used.In other words, the photographing unit 110 performs the photographingstep using an array image sensor (a two dimensional image sensor). Theimage sensor may be called a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensoraccording to whether the image sensing element is the CCD or the CMOS.

The CCD is a sensor that obtains an image by converting light intoelectric charge. The CCD includes a circuit in which a plurality ofcondensers, which gather and direct visible light, are connected oneanother in pairs.

The CMOS is a sensor that includes an integrated circuit in whichMetal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFET) of ap-channel and an n-channel are connected to each other in series betweenpower voltages and an input is connected to gates of the two MOSFETs andan output is connected between drains of the two MOSFETs.

The display unit 130 displays the image photographed by thephotographing unit 110 on a screen. Since the photographing unit 110outputs an image corresponding to reflected light from when thephotographing apparatus 100 is turned on or a photographing menu isselected, the display unit 120 displays a screen image corresponding tolight entering the photographing unit 110 even in a standby mode.

The display unit 130 may be implemented as a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) panel like a general mobile device. However, this should not beconsidered as limiting. The display unit 130 may be implemented as atouch screen. Accordingly, a user may input various commands such as oneto photograph by touching the touch screen or selecting various keys(not shown) provided on a body of the photographing apparatus 100.

If the user inputs a command to photograph in standby mode, thecontroller 120 controls the photographing unit 110 to perform thephotographing step. Accordingly, image data corresponding to a screenimage when the command to photograph is input is generated and stored inthe storage unit 140.

The sensing unit 150 senses a motion of the photographing apparatus 100.The motion refers to a motion of a body of the photographing apparatus100 such as a motion in which the photographing apparatus 100 isrotated, changing a photographing angle, and a motion in which thephotographing apparatus 100 moves in a direction without changing thephotographing angle.

The sensing unit 150 may be implemented as various types of sensors suchas a gravitational acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and a gyrosensor.

For example, if the sensing unit 150 is implemented as a flux gategeomagnetic sensor using a flux gate, the sensing unit 150 may includeflux gate cores made of material of high permeability such as permalloy(e.g., a nickel-iron magnetic allow), driving coils and detection coilswinding the cores. The number of flux gate cores may be two or three.The flux gate cores may be formed in a mutually orthogonal pattern. Inother words, in the case of a two-axis flux gate sensor, the flux gatecores may be implemented with X and Y-axis flux gates. In the case of athree-axis flux gate sensor, the flux gate cores may be implemented withX Y and Z-axis flux gates. If a driving signal is applied to eachdriving coil winding each flux gate core, magnetism is induced by thecore. By detecting a 2^(nd) order harmonic component, which isproportional to an external magnetic field using the detection coil,size and direction of the external magnetic field is measured. Bycomparing the currently measured direction of the magnetic field with apreviously measured direction, angle and direction of rotation aresensed.

In another example, the sensing unit 150 may include a gyro sensor. Thegyro sensor measures an angle changes in one second. Specifically, aCoriolis force is generated when an object moves. The gyro sensor sensesan angular velocity acting in an inertial system using a formularegarding the Coriolis force. Accordingly, the angle and direction ofthe rotation are sensed.

In order to compensate for an effect caused by inclination of thephotographing apparatus 100, the photographing apparatus 100 may furtherinclude an acceleration sensor. In other words, considering aninclination angle such as a pitch angle or a roll angle measured by theacceleration sensor, the sensing unit 150 can accurately calculate theangle and direction of the rotation.

As described above, the sensing unit 150 may use a variety of sensorsand a more detailed explanation regarding configuration and step of suchsensors is omitted.

The graphic processor 160 generates a plurality of guide images and aphotographing focus for photographing a panoramic image and displaysthem on the screen of the display unit 130.

The plurality of guide images disclosed herein refers to images thatguide the photographing apparatus 100 to move at a photographing anglenecessary for forming the panoramic image. The number of guide imagescorresponds to the number of images that are needed to form thepanoramic image.

If the panoramic image is a general panoramic image extending in ahorizontal direction, the plurality of guide images are arranged in asingle line and displayed on the screen image. On the other hand, if thepanoramic image is a 360-degree spherical panoramic image forming asingle spherical surface, the plurality of guide images are arranged inmultiple lines and displayed on the screen image. The positions of theguide images are fixed on the screen image. A method for arranging theguide images will be explained in detail below.

The photographing focus refers to a focus guide image corresponding to acurrent photographing direction. The photographing focus moves accordingto the motion of the photographing apparatus 100. In other words, if theuser rotates the photographing apparatus 100 to the left, thephotographing focus moves to the left. If the user moves up thephotographing apparatus 100, the photographing focus moves up. Asdescribed above, the photographing focus moves in vertical andhorizontal directions on the screen image.

The user may control the photographing focus in order to overlap one ofthe guide images by moving the photographing apparatus 100. Accordingly,if the photographing focus matches one guide image, the controller 120can control the photographing unit 110 to photograph automatically atthat time. Therefore, the user can obtain images photographed at variousangles for the panoramic image simply by moving the photographing focusto match the guide image like a game.

If the photographing step for each guide image has been completed, thecontroller 120 combines image data that has been photographed and storedin the storage unit 140 and generates panoramic image data.

More specifically, the controller 120 extracts data regardingcharacteristics of a plurality of images photographed based on the guideimages. The controller 120 determines matching parts by comparing theextracted data. The matching parts are connected to one another and theconnected parts are processed by blending, such that a single panoramicimage is generated. The generated panoramic image may be stored in thestorage unit 140.

The storage unit 140 may be an internal memory which is provided in thephotographing apparatus 100 or a memory card or a Universal Serial Bus(USB) memory stick which is easily removable from the photographingapparatus 100. Also, the storage unit 140 may be an external storageunit connected to the photographing apparatus 100 through a wired orwireless interface.

FIG. 2 illustrates a photographing screen according to variousembodiments. As shown in part (a) of FIG. 2, a screen image includingimages of subjects within a photographing range is displayed on a screen10 of the photographing apparatus 100. An area 11 to input aphotographing command may also be displayed on the screen 10. The usermay input the photographing command by touching area 12 of the area 11.Part (a) of FIG. 2 illustrates the screen implemented as a touch screen.If the photographing command is input through a key rather than thetouch screen, area 11 may not be displayed.

If mode conversion is achieved by selecting a panorama photographingmode and a photographing step is performed, a plurality of guide images50-1 to 50-12 and a photographing focus 60 are displayed on the screenimage 10 as shown in part (b) of FIG. 2. The guide images 50-1 to 50-12are arranged in vertical and horizontal directions with reference to acenter of the screen. If an initial photographing step has beenperformed, the guide image may be omitted from the center of the screenand instead the photographing, focus 60 may be placed on the center ofthe screen as shown in part (b) of FIG. 2. However, if it is implementedto display the plurality of guide images right after the mode conversionwithout performing the initial photographing, the guide image may alsobe displayed on the center of the screen. The initial position of thephotographing focus 60 may thus overlap the guide image on the center ofthe screen or may be a different position.

The maximum number of guide images 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4 are displayedin a center line including an initially photographed image. Less thanthe maximum number of guide images are displayed in upper and lowerlines of the center line. In the outermost lines, i.e., the uppermostline and the lowest line, the lowest number of guide images 50-8, 50-12are displayed. Referring to part (b) of FIG. 2, four guide images aredisplayed in the center line, three guide images are displayed in eachof the upper and the lower lines of the center line, and one guide imageis displayed in each of the uppermost line and the lowest line.

The total number of guide images may vary depending on the specificationof the photographing apparatus 100. In other words, if the photographingapparatus 100 has a big photographing angle, it contains subjects withina 360-degree range in relatively fewer images. Therefore, the number ofguide images is relatively low. For example, if the photographingapparatus 100 can photograph subjects within a 60-degree range at atime, about 6 guide images may be displayed in the center line. On theother hand, if the photographing apparatus 100 has a small photographingangle, the number of images required increases. Therefore, the number ofguide images increases. For example, if the photographing apparatus 100can photograph subjects with a 30-degree range at a time, at least 12guide images may be displayed in the center line.

Thus, the user moves the photographing focus 60 by moving thephotographing apparatus 100. If the photographing focus 60 moves to theright guide image 50-3 as shown in part (c) FIG. 2 and overlaps theguide image 50-3 as shown in part (d) of FIG. 2, a photographing step isperformed at that moment. As shown in (d) of FIG. 2, a visual effectalerting the user of a current photographing situation may be displayed.Specifically, a graphic effect like a flash is output on the screen sothat the user can recognize that auto-photographing step is performed.

Although part (d) of FIG. 2 shows that the visual effect is displayed, asound effect may, for example, be output instead of the visual effect.If the photographing apparatus 100 is provided with a sound outputelement such as a speaker, a beep or other sound may be output at whenthe photographing focus 60 overlaps the guide image 50-3. The visualeffect and the sound effect may be output together for the user.

If the auto-photographing step is achieved, the corresponding guideimage 50-3 may be deleted or its display state may be changed.Specifically, the change of the display state may mean change of a colorof the guide image or change to an inactive state of the guide image bybeing blurred. Alternatively, the corresponding guide image may be givenan animation effect as if it is popped out from the whole arrangement ofthe guide images or it moves to a certain area (not shown) provided on apart of the screen 10. Accordingly, the user can easily recognize thatone image for forming the panoramic image has been created.

If the photographing step for the one guide image 50-3 has beencompleted, the user moves the photographing focus 60 to the next guideimage by moving the photographing apparatus 100. Referring to part (e)of FIG. 2, the photographing focus 60 moves to the guide image 50-7 inthe upper line. A photographing direction and a photographing order forforming the panoramic image may be set by the user. Therefore, a userhas more order choice. Moreover, the user can intuitively know whichpart of the whole subject has been currently photographed.

In the method described above, the user performs the photographing stepby matching the photographing focus 60 with all of the guide images insequence. Accordingly, if the photographing step has been completed forall of the guide images, the panoramic image is generated by combiningthe image data.

As shown in parts (b) to (e) of FIG. 2, a menu 13 to input a command tofinish the photographing step may be displayed on a certain area of thescreen. Accordingly, if the user inputs the command to finishphotographing even before the photographing for all of the guide imageshas been completed, the photographing step finishes and the panoramicimage is generated by combining the image data that has beenphotographed by that time. If the touch screen is not provided, thecommand to finish the photographing step may be input through the key ofthe photographing apparatus 100.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of guide images and thephotographing focus 60 may be generated in a form corresponding to areduced image of the screen image.

Also, an image after a currently displayed screen image is shifted tocorrespond to change of a photographing angle may be displayed as theguide image. For example, if a currently photographed image is to beplaced on the center of the screen, the right guide image 50-3 may be animage after the currently photographed image is rotated clockwise byabout 60 degrees and the next right guide image 50-4 may be an imageafter the currently photographed image is rotated clockwise by 120degrees. The upper guide image 50-6 may be an image after the currentlyphotographed image is moved up by 45 degrees, and the lower guide image50-10 may be an image after the currently photographed image is moveddown by 45 degrees.

Further, the guide images and the photographing focus may be displayedin an empty box shape with only edges.

FIG. 3 illustrates a spherical panoramic image. As shown in FIG. 3, thephotographing apparatus 100 generates a plurality of images 1, 2, . . ., n, n+1, . . . , n+m, n+m+1, . . . , n+m+p, and n+m+p+1) and generatesa single spherical panoramic image by combining the plurality of images.The photographing apparatus 100 located at the center of the sphere ofFIG. 3 photographs in vertical and horizontal directions according tothe guide images. In other words, the user photographs images bymatching the photographing focus 60 with each guide image by moving thephotographing apparatus 100. If the guide images corresponding theimages constituting the spherical panoramic image of FIG. 3 arerepresented on a plane screen, the guide images are displayed as shownin (b) of FIG. 2. Considering that the sphere has a greatest diameter atthe center portion, the maximum number of guide images are needed tophotograph an image to be placed in the center line. As the line islocated farther from the center line, the number of needed imagesdecreases and, thus, the number of guide images decreases. Accordingly,one guide image is provided for the images n+m+1, n+m+p+1 placed on theuppermost portion and the lowest portion of the sphere.

In FIG. 2, the guide image that has been photographed is deleted.However, the guide image may be differentiated from the other guideimages by changing the display state of the guide image.

FIG. 4 illustrates a different form of the guide images. In FIG. 4, aguide image 70-3 is displayed at a center of a screen. Accordingly, fiveguide images 70-1˜70-5 are displayed in a center line, three guideimages 70-6˜70-8, 70-10˜70-12 are displayed in each of upper and lowerlines, and one guide image 70-9, 70-13 is displayed in each of anuppermost line and a lowest line. A photographing focus 60, which isinitially displayed on a predetermined area on the screen (for example,a center portion or one of edges of the screen) moves according to themotion of the photographing apparatus 100. If the photographing focus 60matches one of the guide images, an auto-photographing step is performedand a display state of the corresponding guide image is changed. Asshown in FIG. 4, the display state of the guide images 70-3, 70-4, 70-7,70-8, which have been photographed, are changed to an inactive state.The user continues to perform panorama photographing while moving thephotographing focus 60 to the other guide images remaining activated.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of guide images for photographing ageneral panoramic image. Since no upper and lower image is not requiredfor photographing the general panoramic image, guide images 80-1, 80-2,80-3, 80-4 are displayed in a single line on a screen 10. In this state,if a photographing focus 60 matches one of the guide images, thecorresponding guide image may be deleted or its display state may bechanged.

As described above, if photographing is performed using the guideimages, the user can intuitively distinguish between a photographedportion and a non-photographed portion of the whole panoramic image, andcan also freely determine a photographing order as he or she wishes.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for photographing apanoramic image according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, ascreen image is displayed in step S610 and a plurality of guide imagesand a photographing focus are displayed on the screen image in stepS620.

In this state, the photographing focus is move according to a motion ofthe photographing apparatus 100 in step S630. If the photographing focusmatches one of the guide images in step S640, a photographing step isperformed in step S650.

The determination of whether the photographing focus matches the guideimage or not by comparing coordinate values on the screen. Specifically,if the whole screen is divided by horizontal and vertical axes, eachcorner of the photographing focus and the guide image may be representedby (x,y) coordinate values. The photographing apparatus 100 directlycompares these coordinate values and performs photographing if thecoordinate values are identical. If the coordinate values are close toeach other within a predetermined allowable range, then the coordinatevalues are considered identical and the photographing step is performed.

According to another embodiment, if the photographing focus matches theguide image, a sound effect or a visual effect may be provided to informthe user that a photographing time has arrived, instead of performingthe auto-photographing step. Therefore, the user may directly input acommand to perform the photographing step.

Moreover, if the photographing focus matches a part of the guide image,the user may be informed that a photographing time has arrived and mayget ready to photograph. The photographing step performed by thephotographing apparatus 100 is not necessarily an auto-photographing andmay be manual photographing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for photographing apanoramic image according to an embodiment in more detail.

If a mode is converted into a panorama photographing mode in step S710,in a state of a screen image being displayed in step S715 and aplurality of guide images and a photographing focus are displayed instep S720. The user may convert the mode into the panorama photographingmode by selecting a mode conversion menu from menu items of thephotographing apparatus 100.

In this state, if a motion of the photographing apparatus 100 is sensedin step S725, the photographing focus is moved according to the motionof the photographing apparatus 100 in step S730. If the photographingfocus matches one of the guide images in step S735, photographing isperformed in step S740.

If the photographing step is completed, a display state of thecorresponding guide image is changed in step S745. The change of thedisplay state is achieved by changing color, flickering state, clarity,or size of the guide image. Also, the guide image itself may be deleted.If photographing for one guide image is completed, it is determinedwhether photographing for all of the guide images has been completed,i.e., whether there is a remaining guide image or not in step S750. Ifit is determined that photographing for all of the guide images has beencompleted, panoramic image data is generated by combining imagesgenerated by that time and is stored in step S765.

On the other hand, if the photographing for all of the guide images havenot been completed, it is determined whether the user stops thephotographing step in step S760. In other words, it is determinedwhether the user inputs a command to finish the photographing step. Ifthe command to finish the photographing step is input, panoramic imagedata is generated by combining images photographed by that time and isstored in step S765. However, if no such command is input, theabove-described steps are repeated. Where the guide images remain on thescreen image, photographing is performed if the photographing focusmatches the guide image as a result of being moved according to themotion of the photographing apparatus 100.

In the above-described method for photographing the panoramic image, theguide images and the photographing focus may be provided in variousforms as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. In particular, the method may furtherinclude a step of providing at least one of a sound effect and a visualeffect when auto-photographing is performed.

The method for photographing the panoramic image according to variousembodiments may be implemented as a program code and may be stored invarious recording media. Specifically, the method may be stored in avariety of recording media readable by a terminal, such as a RandomAccess Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), anErasable PRogrammable ROM (EPROM), an Electronically Erasable andProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, amemory card, an USB memory, and a CD-ROM. Accordingly, a program may beinstalled so that the above-described method can be executed in a deviceto which such a recording medium is connected or mounted.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,the spirit and scope of the present invention must be defined not by thedescribed embodiments thereof but by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable photographing device, the devicecomprising: an image sensor; a motion sensor; a touch display; and aprocessor configured to: obtain a first image for a panoramic image,control the touch display to present a screen including a first visualelement which moves in accordance with movement of the device detectedby the motion sensor and a second visual element which remains at adefined position of the touch display during the movement of the devicedetected by the motion sensor, the first visual element starting to bepresented on the touch display in response to obtaining the first imageand being continuously presented on the touch display as the firstvisual element approaches the second visual element in accordance withthe movement of the device detected by the motion sensor, and obtain asecond image for the panoramic image when the first visual elementsubstantially overlaps the second visual element.
 2. The portablephotographing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor isconfigured to control the touch display to present the first visualelement and the second visual element when an initial image is obtainedin response to a user input for capturing the panoramic image.
 3. Theportable photographing device according to claim 2, wherein theprocessor is configured to receive the user input for capturing thepanoramic image in a standby mode, and to control the image sensor toobtain the initial image in response to the user input.
 4. The portablephotographing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor isconfigured to obtain a plurality of images captured by the image sensorby determining an image corresponding to each time the first visualelement substantially overlaps the second visual element, and to obtainthe panoramic image by combining the obtained plurality of images. 5.The portable photographing device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor is configured to control the touch display to present, inresponse to a user input for capturing the panoramic image, the firstvisual element and the second visual element.
 6. The portablephotographing device according to claim 1, wherein when the first visualelement substantially overlaps the second visual element, at least oneof the first visual element and the second visual element disappearsfrom the touch display.
 7. The portable photographing device accordingto claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the imagesensor to automatically capture the second image each time the firstvisual element substantially overlaps the second visual element.
 8. Theportable photographing device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor is configured to automatically combine an image to at leastone previously-obtained image each time the first visual elementsubstantially overlaps the second visual element.
 9. The portablephotographing device according to claim 4, wherein the processor isconfigured to obtain the panoramic image, in which the obtainedplurality of images are combined, when the first visual element isdetermined to substantially overlap the second visual element apredetermined number of times.
 10. The portable photographing deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to combine theobtained plurality of images, to obtain the panoramic image, when thefirst visual element is determined to substantially overlap the secondvisual element the predetermined number of times.
 11. The portablephotographing device according to claim 4, wherein the processor isconfigured to obtain the panoramic image, in which the obtainedplurality of images are combined, in response to a user input to finishcapturing of images.
 12. The portable photographing device according toclaim 11, wherein the processor is configured to combine the obtainedplurality of images, to obtain the panoramic image, in response to theuser input to finish capturing of images.
 13. A method of operating aportable photographing device, the method comprising: obtaining a firstimage for a panoramic image, controlling a display of the portablephotographing device to present a first visual element which moves inaccordance with movement of the device detected by a motion sensor and asecond visual element which remains at a defined position of the displayduring the movement of the device detected by the motion sensor, thefirst visual element starting to be presented on the display in responseto the obtaining the first image and being continuously presented on thedisplay as the first visual element approaches the second visual elementin accordance with the movement of the device detected by the motionsensor, and obtaining a second image captured by an image sensor of theportable photographing device when the first visual elementsubstantially overlaps the second visual element.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein the obtaining the second image comprises:obtaining a plurality of images captured by the image sensor bydetermining an image corresponding to each time the first visual elementsubstantially overlaps the second visual element; and obtaining apanoramic image by combining the obtained plurality of images.
 15. Themethod according to claim 13, wherein the controlling the display of theportable photographing device to present the first visual elementcomprises controlling the display to present the first visual elementand the second visual element in response to a user input for capturinga panoramic image.
 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein theobtaining the second image comprises controlling the image sensor toautomatically capture the second image each time the first visualelement substantially overlaps the second visual element.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein the obtaining the second image comprisesautomatically combining an image to at least one previously-obtainedimage each time the first visual element substantially overlaps thesecond visual element.
 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein theobtaining the panoramic image comprises obtaining the panoramic image,in which the obtained plurality of images are combined, when the firstvisual element is determined to substantially overlap the second visualelement a predetermined number of times.
 19. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the obtaining the panoramic image comprises combiningthe obtained plurality of images, to obtain the panoramic image, whenthe first visual element is determined to substantially overlap thesecond visual element a predetermined number of times.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the obtaining the panoramic imagecomprises obtaining the panoramic image, in which the obtained pluralityof images are combined, in response to a user input to finish capturingof images.
 21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the obtainingthe panoramic image comprises combining the obtained plurality ofimages, to obtain the panoramic image, in response to a user input tofinish capturing of images.
 22. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium having recorded thereon a program executable by acomputer for performing a method of operating a portable photographingdevice, the method comprising: obtaining a first image for a panoramicimage, controlling a display of the portable photographing device topresent a first visual element which moves in accordance with movementof the device detected by a motion sensor and a second visual elementwhich remains at a defined position of the display during the movementof the device detected by the motion sensor, the first visual elementstarting to be presented on the display in response to obtaining thefirst image and being continuously presented on the display as the firstvisual element approaches the second visual element in accordance withthe movement of the device detected by the motion sensor, and obtaininga second image captured by an image sensor of the portable photographingdevice when the first visual element substantially overlaps the secondvisual element.
 23. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium according to claim 22, wherein the obtaining the second imagecomprises: obtaining a plurality of images captured by the image sensorby determining an image corresponding to each time the first visualelement substantially overlaps the second visual element; and obtaininga panoramic image by combining the obtained plurality of images.
 24. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 22,wherein the controlling the display of the portable photographing deviceto present the first visual element comprises controlling the display topresent the first visual element and the second visual element inresponse to a user input for capturing a panoramic image.
 25. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 22,wherein the obtaining the second image comprises controlling the imagesensor to automatically capture the second image each time the firstvisual element substantially overlaps the second visual element.
 26. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 22,wherein the obtaining the second image comprises automatically combiningan image to at least one previously-obtained image each time the firstvisual element substantially overlaps the second visual element.
 27. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 23,wherein the obtaining the panoramic image comprises obtaining thepanoramic image, in which the obtained plurality of images are combined,when the first visual element is determined to substantially overlap thesecond visual element a predetermined number of times.
 28. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 23,wherein the obtaining the panoramic image comprises combining theobtained plurality of images, to obtain the panoramic image, when thefirst visual element is determined to substantially overlap the secondvisual element a predetermined number of times.
 29. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 23, wherein theobtaining the panoramic image comprises obtaining the panoramic image,in which the obtained plurality of images are combined, in response to auser input to finish capturing of images.
 30. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 29, wherein theobtaining the panoramic image comprises combining the obtained pluralityof images, to obtain the panoramic image, in response to a user input tofinish capturing of images.